Poised to e-Publish - so what's stopping me? By Rosalie Warren

Cover Design by Rob Tysall

 Fear. Fear. A fanatical devotion to the.... no, fear again.


I'm not a complete e-publishing newbie. Last November, the Coventry Writers' group, to which I belong, ventured into e-publishing with our Coventry Tales. It was a rewarding and educational experience and the sales, while not amazing, have not been bad.


Nor am I a stranger to conventional publishing (or whatever it's OK to call it now... I can never remember). I've had two books for adults and one for YA published that way and I have another series commissioned, this time for younger readers. So I'm not a complete beginner, though I'm relatively inexperienced in comparison with many of  my esteemed co-contributors on this blog (I'm learning lots from them).


And I now have a book ready for e-release. Well, almost ready. It's been revised to within a jot and tittle of its life. It's been edited and proofed. I've hired a professional designer and photographer to create a cover for me and I absolutely love the result (thank you, Rob Tysall).


I've listened to several fellow authors on the subject of e-publishing. Their enthusiasm has inspired me. I've had several generous offers of help from colleagues and friends. I'm part of a knowledgable and supportive group (this one). So, er... what's stopping me?


As I confessed above, fear. Sheer terror. I've never felt like this with a book before. Have always been in a hurry, once something's been accepted by a publisher, to see my work in print. Have always felt as though it's other people holding up the process.


I suppose one difference is, this time, it's all down to me. Part of my fear is tech-related: will my book fall irretrievably into a mass of unfathomable computer code (I've done computer programming, so my fear is not entirely irrational, perhaps)? Am I afraid of not managing to get to grips with the techie stuff and having to admit defeat when, I tell myself, this is the kind of thing I should be able to do?


Yes, certainly. But mainly, of course, it's reluctance to put my baby, Charity's Child, out there. Because out there lies the possibility of failure. And failure is - what? Failing to achieve spectacular sales? Well, yes. But my expectations are modest, at least for this first attempt. Failure to achieve any sales at all? Perhaps! But, as we all know, one of the joys of e-publishing is that sales can start very slowly and then grow. I have other books to come. And there's no fear of going out of print, of being remaindered and used to support a motorway. 

Do other people feel like this before e-publishing or am I just being ridiculously cautious and protective of my precious 'child', which, let's face it, is just a bundle of words?


Get on with it, Rosalie!

Best wishes,
Rosalie Warren


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